Spiritual Wellbeing: Celebrate Winter Solstice – The Original Christmas
Spiritual Wellbeing: Celebrate Winter Solstice – The Original Christmas
Gather round, darlings, as we peel back the shiny, tinsel-coated layers of the holiday season and rediscover its true, magical roots. This isn’t a humbug rant but a reclamation of the myths and meaning behind what has become a chaotic circus of consumerism. Let’s align our hearts with the earth’s cycles and bring some spiritual enlightenment back to this season of light and shadow.
Pointless Decadence
First things first, why am I doing this? Because modern Christmas feels like a garish performance, drenched in wasteful excess and bereft of soul. It’s been hijacked by marketing campaigns and emotionally manipulative adverts, with families gritting their teeth through tense “together time.” A far cry from the earthy, firelit reflections our ancestors once held sacred.
Santa Overload
And let’s talk about Santa. Or should I say Santas—the legions of them multiplying across shopping centres like confused clones. One in a cheap polyester suit, the next with a suspiciously feminine vibe, and all of them prompting endless questions from bewildered children. “Mummy, is Santa omnipresent?!” Honestly, just stop.
An Ancient Celebration
Long before a certain JC showed up, this time of year already pulsed with celebration and celestial meaning. The Winter Solstice, with its promise of the sun’s return, was an ancient observance of light overcoming darkness—both literally and metaphorically. It marked the earth’s subtle shift back towards life and hope, honouring the sun’s rebirth.
The Sun is Born
Between December 20th and 23rd, the astronomical dance of Solstice unfolds. Ancient cultures revered it as the Sun King’s birth, a celestial promise that darkness would loosen its grip. The Goddess, embodying the Great Mother, brings forth this light—a potent time for reflection, stillness, and spiritual renewal.
Modern Madness
Fast forward to today, and instead of cosy introspection, we’re caught in a relentless whirlwind of boozy parties and commercial madness. Yet deep down, don’t we all crave the opposite? Soft blankets, quiet nights, and time to dream in sync with nature’s rhythms. Instead, we push against the grain, paying the price in mental and physical exhaustion.
The Cost of Disconnection
Without pause for self-reflection, we lose the chance to release what no longer serves us. And by neglecting this essential process, we cheat ourselves out of the insights and growth that come with the inward journey. Take stock, forgive, and learn, because true wisdom lies in the still moments—not in another mince pie.
Solstice & Christmas: The Takeover
The Winter Solstice’s rich Pagan traditions were too popular to ignore, even for the early Church. By 440 AD, Pope Julius I cleverly rebranded the Sun’s rebirth as the Son’s birth, choosing December 25th to assimilate Pagan Saturnalia celebrations into Christianity. And voilà—Christmas as we know it began to take root.
A Patchwork History
From the Roman sun god Sol Invictus to the Persian deity Mithras, December 25th has long been a celebration of light’s triumph over darkness. In Sweden, December 13th honoured Lucina, the Goddess of Light. Pagans lit Yule bonfires for Odin and Thor around the Solstice, weaving a rich tapestry of traditions that celebrated nature’s cycles and humanity’s resilience.
Tarot & Winter’s Struggles
The Chariot card in Tarot feels apt here, symbolising struggle, inner battle, and ultimate triumph. Winter asks us to confront our shadows, clear out emotional clutter, and emerge renewed. Solstice marks a cosmic turning point, one that invites us to rise like the Sun, victorious against our inner darkness.
The Best of Both Worlds
By the Middle Ages, Christianity had mostly subdued Paganism, but people still found ways to party. Enter the Lord of Misrule, leading raucous festivities where the poor demanded food and drink from the rich. It was Mardi Gras meets Robin Hood, with a touch of chaos.
The Commercial Christmas
Christmas’s Victorian revival gave it a family-friendly makeover, but it also laid the groundwork for the consumer-driven monster we know today. Yet hidden within the gaudy chaos, echoes of Solstice rituals remain: the evergreens, the lights, and the symbolism of rebirth.
Magical Symbols of the Season
Mistletoe: Sacred and magical, mistletoe was seen as a protector, fertility booster, and bringer of peace.
Holly: With its spiky leaves to ward off spirits and blood-red berries symbolising the feminine divine, holly is a protective force.
Ivy: Representing immortality and reincarnation, its spirals echo the eternal cycles of life.
Yew Trees: With roots connecting the living to the dead, yew trees symbolised regeneration and were sacred to ancient burial sites.
Together, these evergreens form the wreaths we hang on our doors, embodying the sacred wheel of life.
A Pagan Alternative
If you’re feeling disconnected from the commercial chaos, why not honour the Solstice instead? Light candles, meditate, and retreat inward for spiritual renewal. Use Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve as your moment of re-emergence, a personal celebration of rebirth. Or embrace the Victorian spirit by giving to those in need. The choice is yours.
Essential Oils for Solstice
For a deeper connection, explore oils that ground and protect your energy. Refer to my blog on oils for spiritual protection, or trust me to guide you with my carefully curated collection of pure, potent essential oils.
Workshops & More
Curious about deepening your knowledge of essential oils or reclaiming magical traditions? Join me for a workshop, either online or in-person, and learn how to weave these ancient practices into your life.
The season is yours to reclaim. Let’s remember the roots, honour the rhythms, and restore the magic that still hums beneath the noise.